JP2003168879A - Connector mounting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector mounting structure by which a connector can be positioned precisely with reference to a printed board, and by which the space efficiency of the printed board is satisfactory. <P>SOLUTION: In the connector mounting structure, positioning ribs 4a installed at the connector 4 and positioning-rib holes 2a formed in the printed board 2 are locked by a screwing operation in a state that both are fitted and positioned, and side faces of the ribs 4a at the connector 4 and side faces of screws 5 used to lock both are arranged so as to come into contact with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector mounting structure attached to a junction block in a vehicle, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a vehicle, a junction block (electrical junction box) and an electronic control unit are connected by
As shown in FIG. 1, the tab terminals 7a that are in a standing state in a row in the bus bar 7 of the junction block 1 are directly inserted into the terminal insertion holes 4h of the connector 4 attached to the printed circuit board 2 of the electronic control unit 3. A so-called direct-junction type connector 4 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the connector 4) for electrical connection is often used.

In order to penetrate all of the tab terminals 7a, the printed board 2 is provided with a slit 8 which is a long penetrating portion and a pair of screw holes 2b as shown in FIG. ing. Then, the connector 4 can be mounted on the printed circuit board 2 by superposing the screw hole 2b and a pair of screw holes 4b provided in front of and behind the connector 4 and screwing them together.

When the connector 4 is mounted on the printed circuit board 2, the respective errors such as the position and the hole diameter of the screw hole 4b of the connector 4, the position and the hole diameter of the screw hole 2b of the printed circuit board 2, and the screw diameter not shown in the figure. Overlap, connector 4
Misalignment may occur between the slit and the slit 8.
Therefore, in recent years, in order to accurately insert each tab terminal 7a into the connector 4, as shown in FIG.
The positioning rib hole 2a corresponding to the printed circuit board 2 is provided,
A technique has been developed for positioning the connector 4 by fitting the positioning rib 4a and the positioning rib hole 2a.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, there is a fixed range around the screw hole 2b formed in the printed circuit board 2 and a constant range around the positioning rib hole 2a on the printed circuit board 2. However, there is a problem in that the space efficiency of the printed circuit board 2 is reduced because no parts or wiring patterns can be provided.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector mounting structure in which not only the connector can be accurately positioned with respect to the printed board but also the space efficiency of the printed board is good. It is an issue.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a positioning rib provided on a connector and a positioning rib hole provided on a printed circuit board to which the connector is attached are fitted to each other. A connector mounting structure in which both are fastened by screwing in a positioned state, and the side surface of the positioning rib of the connector and the side surface of the screw for fastening both are arranged to be in contact with each other. This is a connector mounting structure.

According to the present invention, since the side surface of the positioning rib of the connector and the side surface of the screw for fastening the both are arranged in contact with each other, parts and wiring patterns around the screw hole and the positioning rib hole are formed. As a result, it is possible to minimize the area on which the board cannot be provided on the printed circuit board, and as a result, it is possible to realize a space-efficient connector mounting structure.

Further, in a preferred aspect of the present invention, the protruding amount of the positioning rib from the connector is set smaller than the thickness of the printed circuit board, and the screw is tightened into the connector from the back side of the printed circuit board through the printed circuit board. The connector mounting structure according to claim 1.

According to this preferred embodiment, the protrusion amount of the positioning rib from the connector is set to be smaller than the thickness of the printed circuit board, so that the positioning rib and the screw do not interfere with each other. Further, since the screw is tightened into the connector from the back side of the printed circuit board through the printed circuit board, the screw is tightened from the connector side to the printed circuit board through the connector, and the screwed part is connected to the printed circuit board member. As compared with the case where the member of the positioning rib is present, there is no discontinuity of the member in the screwed portion into which the screw is tightened, so that both can be more firmly fastened.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a printed circuit board 2 of an electronic control unit 3 incorporated in a junction block 1 as an example of application of a connector mounting structure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration in which a connector 4 is mounted on
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the connector mounting structure 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector mounting structure 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a positioning rib hole 2a and a screw formed in the printed board 2 of the connector mounting structure 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Hole 2
FIG. 3B is a diagram of b viewed from the back surface of the printed circuit board 2. Also,
5 is an exploded perspective view of the connector 4 applied to the connector mounting structure 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the connector 4 applied to the connector mounting structure 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Is.

First, referring to FIG. 1, a connector mounting structure 10 according to the illustrated embodiment is provided with a so-called junction direct connector type connector 4 on a printed circuit board 2 of an electronic control unit 3 incorporated in a vehicle junction block 1. It is provided for mounting.

The junction block 1 has a lid 6
A bus-shaped structure, which is a box-shaped structure for housing internal electronic components, is housed between the case 1a and the partition plate 1b with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. . This bus bar 7 has its upper surface
The tab terminals 7a arranged in a line in a certain range are in an upright state so as to penetrate the partition plate 1b.

The electronic control unit 3 is provided with electronic parts and circuits on the printed circuit board 2. When the electronic control unit 3 is incorporated into the junction block 1, the electronic control unit 3 is provided on the predetermined bus bar 7 and stands up in a line. Tab terminals 7a and connectors 4 provided on the printed circuit board 2
Are connected to each other to make an electrical connection.

The above-mentioned connector 4 is provided on the upper surface side of the printed circuit board 2 and is connected to the tab terminals 7a standing in a row in order to electrically connect the bus bar 7 and the electronic control unit 3. In this embodiment, two long and same structures having the same structure are mounted on the left and right ends of the printed circuit board 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the printed circuit board 2 has a slit 8 which is a long penetrating portion for penetrating all of the tab terminals 7a which are arranged in a line and stand upright. Is formed, and this slit 8
The connector 4 and the connector 4 are set to be parallel to each other so as not to obstruct the penetration of each tab terminal 7a.

The connector mounting structure 10 according to this embodiment has a positioning rib 4a provided on the connector 4.
And a positioning rib hole 2a provided in the printed circuit board 2 to which the connector 4 is attached. In a state where the positioning rib 4a and the positioning rib hole 2a are fitted to each other and the connector 4 is positioned with respect to the printed circuit board 2. 3 is a connector mounting structure 10 in which the printed circuit board 2 and the connector 4 are fastened with screws 5 by screwing.
As also shown in FIG. 5, the side surface of the positioning rib 4a of the connector 4 and the side surface of the screw 5 for fastening both are arranged so as to be in contact with each other.

That is, a pair of flange portions 4m for attaching the connector 4 to the printed circuit board 2 are provided at both longitudinal ends of the connector 4 so as to project to both front and rear ends of the connector 4. The flange portion 4m is provided with a pair of screw holes 4b for screwing the printed circuit board 2, and a cylindrical positioning rib 4a for positioning the connector 4 on the printed circuit board 2 on the bottom surface of the flange portion 4m. Is provided so as to project downward at a position adjacent to the screw hole 4b.

On the other hand, the printed circuit board 2 is fitted with screw holes 2b for screwing the connector 4 to the printed circuit board 2 and positioning ribs 4a, which will be described later, at positions corresponding to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the connector 4 to be mounted. The positioning rib holes 2a to be fitted are provided so as to be continuous with each other. Then, the connector 4 is arranged on the printed circuit board 2 so as to straddle the slit 8 of the printed circuit board 2, and the positioning rib 4a and the positioning rib hole 2a provided in the printed circuit board 2 are fitted to each other so that the printed circuit board 2 is fitted. With the connector 4 positioned relative to the screw hole 4b,
And the screw hole 2b provided in the printed circuit board 2 are overlapped with each other, and the printed circuit board 2 and the connector 4 are fastened by screwing.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the amount of protrusion of the positioning rib 4a from the connector 4 is the printed circuit board 2
Is set smaller than the thickness. In addition, the screw 5
Is fastened to the connector 4 from the back side of the printed circuit board 2 through the printed circuit board 2.

Although the present invention does not limit the internal structure of the connector 4 and the like, for example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a resin base member 4c, a resin cover member 4d, The base member 4 is provided with a metallic female metal fitting 4e.
Even if the protrusion 4f formed on the c and the claw 4g formed at the corresponding position of the cover member 4d engage with each other, the cover member 4d and the base member 4c are integrated. Good.

In this example, the female metal fitting 4e of the connector 4 is used.
Is a component formed by bending a thin plate of a conductive metal into a rectangular tube shape, and is a terminal insertion hole 4 formed in the cover member 4d.
h, the tab terminal 7a through the through hole 4i formed in the base member 4c and the slit 8 formed in the printed board 2.
Etc. can be inserted.

Further, the female metal fitting 4e is formed with a spring tongue piece 4j into which the tab terminal 7a can be inserted by folding a part of the top of the female metal fitting 4e inward, and at the outer side of the female metal fitting 4e.
A connection piece 4k is extended on the side opposite to the spring tongue piece 4j, and the connection piece 4k is configured to be connected to the printed wiring 2c (FIG. 6) formed on the printed board 2 by the solder 2d.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

First, in the connector mounting structure 10 according to the illustrated embodiment, the procedure for mounting the connector 4 on the printed circuit board 2 of the electronic control unit 3 is as follows.

That is, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, printing is performed so that the positioning rib 4a provided on the connector 4 and the positioning rib hole 2a provided on the printed circuit board 2 to which the connector 4 is attached face each other. The connector 4 is positioned above the board 2, the printed board 2 and the connector 4 are stacked as they are, and the positioning rib 4a is fitted into the positioning rib hole 2a.

In this state, in order to penetrate all of the tab terminals 7a (FIG. 1) which are arranged in a line in a standing state, the slit 8 which is a long penetrating portion formed on the printed circuit board 2 and the connector. 4 and 4 are parallel to each other so as not to obstruct the penetration of each tab terminal 7a.

Further, in this state, the positioning rib 4
a and the positioning rib hole 2a provided on the printed circuit board 2 are fitted to each other to position the connector 4 with respect to the printed circuit board 2, the screw hole 2b of the printed circuit board 2 and the screw hole 4b of the connector 4 are overlapped with each other. As a result, the printed circuit board 2 and the connector 4 can be screwed.

With the connector 4 and the screw holes 2b positioned with respect to the printed circuit board 2, the side surface of the positioning rib 4a of the connector 4 and the side surface of the screw 5 are in contact with each other. The screw 5 is screwed into the screw hole of the connector 4 through the printed board 2 from the back side, and the printed board 2 and the connector 4 are fastened.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 4, since the side surface of the positioning rib 4a of the connector 4 and the side surface of the screw 5 are in contact with each other, the outer edge of the positioning rib 4a is the screw head 5a. It is inside the boundary line 5b,
Area 2e where parts and wiring patterns cannot be provided
However, it is the minimum on the printed circuit board 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a connecting piece 4k extending outside the female metal fitting 4e of the connector 4 projects through the slit 8 to the back surface of the printed circuit board 2,
The connecting piece 4k is connected to the printed wiring 2c formed on the back surface of the printed circuit board 2 by the solder 2d, and the connector 4
Is electrically connected to electronic components and circuits provided on the printed circuit board of the electronic control unit 3.

When the electronic control unit 3 is incorporated in the junction block 1, the tab terminals 7a provided on a predetermined bus bar 7 and standing up in a row are printed on the electronic control unit 3. Board 2
The tab terminal 7a is fitted into the female metal fitting 4e provided inside the connector 4 by inserting and connecting the connector 4 provided from above from below. And the tab terminal 7a
However, since it is electrically connected to the printed wiring 2c of the printed board 2 through the spring tongue piece 4j of the female metal fitting 4e and the connection piece 4k, the electrical connection between the electronic control unit 3 and the junction block 1 is completed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the connector 4 is mounted on the printed circuit board 2, the positioning ribs 4a are fitted into the two positioning rib holes 2a on the printed circuit board 2. The connector 4 with respect to the printed circuit board 2 can be easily positioned, and the parallelism between the connector 4 and the slit 8 can be realized with sufficient accuracy. The positional deviation of can be suppressed to be equal to or less than the allowable value. Further, it is possible to obtain a stable posture of the connector 4 after positioning. Therefore, each tab terminal 7a
The insertion into the connector 4 is not hindered, the assembly of the electronic control unit 3 into the junction block 1 is facilitated, and the working efficiency thereof can be improved.

Next, since the side surface of the positioning rib 4a of the connector 4 and the side surface of the screw 5 for fastening them are arranged so as to be in contact with each other, the range in which parts and wiring patterns cannot be provided is printed circuit board. As a result, it is possible to realize a connector mounting structure with good space efficiency.

Further, in this embodiment, the positioning rib 4a
Since the amount of protrusion from the connector 4 is set to be smaller than the thickness of the printed circuit board 2, the positioning rib 4a and the screw 5 do not interfere with each other. Further, since the screw 5 is fastened to the connector 4 from the back side of the printed circuit board 2 through the printed circuit board 2, compared to the case where the screw 5 is fastened to the printed circuit board 2 through the connector 4 from the connector 4 side, the screw 5 is As a result that there is no discontinuity of the member in the screwed portion where is fastened, both can be more firmly fastened.

The above-described embodiment is merely an example of a preferred specific example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

For example, the screw 5 is not always the printed circuit board 2
It is not necessary that the screw 5 is fastened to the connector 4 from the back side through the printed circuit board 2, and the screw 5 may be fastened to the printed circuit board 2 through the connector 4 from the connector 4 side. Even in this case, it is possible to fasten both with sufficient strength and accuracy.

Next, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the positioning rib 4a is eccentrically arranged inside the connector 4 with respect to the screw 5, but the positioning rib 4a contacts the side surface of the screw 5. With such arrangement, the position of the positioning rib 4a can be arbitrarily set.

The internal structure of the connector 4 is not limited to the illustrated form, and the slit 8 of the printed board 2 is not essential. The structure may be such that each tab terminal 7a is inserted into the connector 4 from above the printed circuit board 2 without passing through the slit 8.

Further, the positioning rib 4a does not have to have a columnar shape as shown in the drawing, but may have an arbitrary shape such as a prismatic shape arranged so as to be in contact with the screw 5.

In any case, when the connector 4 is mounted on the printed circuit board 2, the positioning ribs 4a are fitted into the two positioning rib holes 2a on the printed circuit board 2 so that the connector on the printed circuit board 2 is fitted. 4 can be easily positioned.

In this embodiment, the connector 4 has been described as the junction direct connection type connector 4.
If the positioning rib 4a provided on the connector 4 and the positioning rib hole 2a provided on the printed circuit board 2 are fitted to each other and the two are positioned, the connector 4 is fastened by screwing. , Other types of connectors 4 may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the invention is applied to the mounting structure of the electronic control unit 3 used in the vehicle is explained, but the invention is applied to other fields, for example, the mounting structure of the electronic control unit of home electric appliances. Also, various design changes are possible, such as being allowed.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention,
As a result of being able to minimize the area where the components and wiring patterns cannot be provided on the printed circuit board, a space-efficient connector mounting structure can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration in which a connector is mounted on a printed circuit board of an electronic control unit incorporated in a junction block as an example of application of a connector mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the connector mounting structure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the connector mounting structure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view of a positioning rib hole and a screw hole formed in the printed circuit board of the connector mounting structure according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the back surface of the printed circuit board.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a connector applied to the connector mounting structure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a connector applied to the connector mounting structure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a prior art of a connector mounting structure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another example of the prior art of a connector mounting structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 printed circuit boards 2a Positioning rib hole 4 connectors 4a Positioning rib 5 screws 10 Connector mounting structure

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A positioning rib provided on the connector,
A connector mounting structure in which both of the positioning ribs provided on the printed circuit board to which the connector is attached are engaged with each other by screwing in a state where the positioning ribs are fitted to each other, and A connector mounting structure characterized in that it is arranged so that a side surface of a screw for fastening both is in contact with each other. 2. The protruding amount of the positioning rib from the connector is set to be smaller than the thickness of the printed circuit board, and the screw is tightened into the connector from the back side of the printed circuit board through the printed circuit board. Connector mounting structure described.